Fulham v Arsenal Betting Tips & Preview – Sunday 7th October 2018

Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham and Unai Emery’s Arsenal meet in a London derby at Craven Cottage on Sunday in the Premier League. The Gunners have won each of their last five in the league, so it’s no surprise to see them head to the Cottage as clear favourites. Can Emery’s men make it six Premier League wins in a row?

The Cottagers have found life difficult back in the top tier, winning just once to hover just above the relegation zone in 17th place. However, a win on home soil this Sunday could kick-start their season. This promises to be an intriguing game in west London at the weekend.

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Fulham News: Tough Start for the Cottagers

Fulham were promoted to the Premier League after beating Aston Villa in the EFL Championship play-off final last May. Like it is for all promoted teams, the Whites will find the Premier League tough at times. After seven games, Jokanovic’s men have picked up one victory, claimed two draws and have been beaten four times. Since easing to a 4-2 win over Burnley at the Cottage back in August, the Whites have picked up just two points from their subsequent four matches, drawing with Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford at home, and losing at Manchester City and Everton (both 3-0).

Serb Key for Fulham

Last term, Aleksandar Mitrovic played a huge part in Fulham’s rise up the Championship table in the second half of the season. The Serbia international settled to life in London with aplomb, going on to score a staggering 12 goals to help Fulham to promotion. Mitrovic has also been on fire at the start of this season, scoring seven times in eight appearances for club and country so far. The 24-year-old will be integral to Fulham’s survival chances this term.

Home Form Crucial for Jokanovic’s Side

If Fulham are to stay up this season, their form at Craven Cottage will no doubt have to play a huge part. In the Championship last season, the Cottagers took 47 points from their home fixtures, with only Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cardiff City and Aston Villa picking up more. After a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on the opening weekend, Fulham have accumulated four points from their last two home league encounters at Craven Cottage. Can they shock Arsenal on Sunday?

Defensive Concerns for the Hosts

Fulham could be without Alfie Mawson and Timothy Fosu-Mensah for Saturday’s clash with the Gunners. To add to their injury woes, full-back Joe Bryan will be out until after the international break with a hamstring issue. If Mawson and Fosu-Mensah are not available for this weekend’s match, the Cottagers will be desperately short of numbers in defence.

Arsenal News: Emery Finding his Feet in London

Arsenal kicked off their season with defeats to Man City and Chelsea. Since then, however, the Gunners have responded superbly well in the Premier League. Arsenal have won each of their last five league affairs, seeing off the likes of West Ham United, Cardiff City, Newcastle United, Everton and Watford. The club have now moved up to fifth in the table, just four points behind joint leaders Man City and Liverpool.

Gunners Back in Form on the Road

Under Arsene Wenger last season, Arsenal picked up just four wins away from home in the Premier League, losing 11 times along the way. Since being beaten at Stamford Bridge in August, the Gunners have already won twice on their travels, winning at Cardiff and Newcastle. Their form at the Emirates Stadium has never really been an issue, and if they can keep winning away, Arsenal could break back into the top four this season.

Lacazette & Aubameyang Working Well

Emery has found a way to fit both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into his starting XI, albeit with Aubameyang in a wider role. So far, the pair have scored seven goals between them in all competitions, both getting on the scoresheet in wins over Cardiff and Everton. If these two can continue to play well together, Arsenal’s attack will be as deadly as anyone’s in the Premier League.

A Few Injury Issues for the Gunners

The likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech will all miss this one through injury. Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are both doubts. Aubameyang has been ill for the last few days but should return this weekend.

Analysis: Comfortable Win for the Gunners

Although not at their blistering best, Arsenal have been in strong shape over the last few weeks, with Emery’s philosophies starting to shine through on this talented team. The Gunners have responded expertly well from their opening two games, slowly but surely starting to flourish under their new Spanish boss. Fulham will be desperate to avoid another defeat, but Arsenal should ease to all three points at the Cottage.

Routine Victory the For the Visitors

Each of Arsenal’s last four league and cup wins have been by two clear goals. Two of those have finished in 2-0 wins, and we can see Emery’s side returning to the Emirates with another 2-0 victory in the bag this weekend. You can get the away side to win 2-0 at 10/1.

Lacazette to Put Arsenal in Front This Sunday

As we touched on, Lacazette has made a solid start to this season, scoring three goals in his last five outings in all competitions, with all three of those helping to secure wins. The Frenchman is available at 9/2 to open the scoring on Sunday.

Gunners Ahead at the Break

Arsenal will want to stamp their authority at Craven Cottage from the very first whistle at the weekend. We’re backing the away side to be winning at half time and full time, which is priced at 6/4.

Recent Matches

Due to Fulham dropping down to the Championship, these two sides have not met since the 2013/14 Premier League season. Arsenal have an excellent recent record over the Cottagers, losing just one of the last 11 league meetings between the pair. Fulham’s one and only success during that time came at Craven Cottage in January 2012, when Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora scored late goals to give the Cottagers a 2-1 win on home turf.

18th January 2014: Arsenal 2 – 0 Fulham

In the last meeting between the two nearly five years ago, Arsenal ran out comfortable 2-0 winners at the Emirates. The Gunners dominated the game, but it took a 57th minute Santi Cazorla goal to finally make the breakthrough. The Spaniard scored again five minutes later to put the game to bed.

24th August 2013: Fulham 1 – 3 Arsenal

The reverse match that season also ended in a routine win for Arsenal. A goal from Olivier Giroud and a brace by Lukas Podolski put the Gunners 3-0 up, with Darren Bent getting a consolation goal in the 77th minute. Fulham went on to be relegated, while Arsenal finished in fourth spot.

20th April 2013: Fulham 0 – 1 Arsenal

At Craven Cottage back in April 2013, Per Mertesacker’s goal shortly before half time was enough to give Arsenal a 1-0 win in a spicy affair. Steve Sidwell and Olivier Giroud were both sent off at the Cottage. In November 2012, the teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Emirates, with Fulham coming from two goals down to lead 3-2. However, Giroud netted his second of the game with 20 minutes remaining to rescue a point for Arsenal.

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